Obama says U.S. should be "ashamed" for not controlling weapons

Obama made the comments after a series of shootings in the United States, the last one in a school in Oregon on Tuesday. Last week, a man opened fire at Seattle Pacific University

President Barack Obama expressed deep frustration with Washington's inability to enact gun control measures, following a series of shootings in the country. "The country needs to do some soul searching on this. It is becoming the norm and take it for granted in ways that to me as a father terrify me," Obama said in response to a question at an event at the White House transmitted online.

Obama made ​​the comments after a series of shootings in the United States, the last one in a school in Oregon on Tuesday. Last week, a man opened fire at Seattle Pacific University. Obama spent the first part of 2013 trying to persuade Congress to pass legislation on the issue after a shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children died.

The move would have imposed some restrictions on the carrying of weapons, but the effort failed amid pressure from the National Rifle Association. From Newton's incident, there have been 74 shootings in schools and educational campus, according to a group called Everytown for Gun Safety, which calls for greater severity in gun legislation.

Obama said it was one of his biggest frustrations as president that have not been able to give basic steps in the issue of weapons, noting that the United States is the only developed country in the world that allows this type of behavior.

"There is no other place like this," he said.

The president said that change is needed in public opinion to force Congress to act.

"I am prepared to work with anyone, including athletes and responsible arms carriers, to develop some solutions, but it is currently possible to achieve even minimal restrictions through Congress, and that should be ashamed," he said.